About Us

About Us

KOST’s work began in 1995, after Rev. Dr. Mabel Parris visited Kenya from the UK.  She witnessed the plight of children in an impoverished rural area near Homa Bay and met the community trying to help them.   Widespread poverty, HIV/AIDS and other diseases had caused the premature death of parents, leaving many orphans behind.  KOST established itself as a practical, grassroots charity to help those in need and this vital work continues today.

KOST is run by a small team in the UK, with no paid employees.  We bear a large proportion of the administrative costs ourselves, so that donation gifts stretch as far as possible to help the children.  We visit Kenya at our own expense to see our Kenyan staff and the children, and to enable on the ground, practical assistance.

We employ eleven Kenyan staff.  They are caring and loyal, most have been with us for years.  Between them they provide all aspects of care for the resident children and give vital support to trainees, special school and secondary school children who live elsewhere.  Two of our staff are qualified teachers.  KOST also employs a nurse, social worker and several valued support staff as part of the Kenyan team.